Friday, November 18, 2011

Apple-Miso Tofu

Last night was our first snow!!! Probably less than an inch and I'm sure it will be gone soon but I'm so excited and love how the world looks with snow!


I love tofu. A lot. I would much rather eat some plain pan fried in a dry pan tofu than beans. I try so hard to love beans, but unless they're mixed with a bunch of other things or pureed/mashed (hummus, refried beans, soup), I end up having to cover them in something or swallow without tasting. I know I talk a lot about my dislike of beans - but I'm just baffled by people who love beans. How can you love them? And why can't I??

So tofu - it is my favourite. Well lentils are good too. But tofu is first. And this apple miso tofu is something different from other tofus I've made before. You marinade the tofu in miso, mirin, ginger, garlic and soy sauce. Then slice up some apples, add them, and bake the tofu, apples and marinade together. Very flavourful. Very saucy. I like crispy fried tofu, but I also love saucy tofu like this one.

If this sounds good, you might also like:
Orange Sesame Tofu & Coconut-Lime Basmati Rice
Sweet and Spicy Cashew Tofu
Lemon Herb Tofu
Honey-Mustard Marinated Tofu

Apple-Miso Tofu
Adapted from Appetite for Reduction

Marinade:
1/4 cup water
5 tbsp miso (I used red)
1/4 cup mirin
1 tbsp minced fresh ginger
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp reduced sodium soy sauce

Everything Else:
1 block extra firm tofu (about 14 oz)
1 pound apples (about 2 large), cored and cut into 1/2 inch thick slices

Mix the marinade ingredients together in a 9x13 inch baking pan.

Cut the tofu into whatever shape you like - I went for squares, but cubes, triangles or slabs would be good too. Add the tofu and let marinate for at least an hour, or up to 12 hours, flipping once in a while to make sure things get coated.

Preheat the oven to 375F. Add the apples to the pan; it;'s okay if they're not all submerged. Cover the pan tightly with tinfoil and bake for 30 minutes.

Remove the pan from the oven and remove the tinfoil. Bake for another 20 minutes. The tofu should be lightly browned and the apples should be nice and soft. Serve over rice if desired.

13 comments:

Emma said...

Sorry but I love beans!! I'll happily eat them plain on top of salad with just lemon juice, s + p as well as adding them to all manner of dishes. Besides, there are so many diff types of beans, do you really dislike all of them?
Glad to see this turned out well, I've got it on the menu for this coming week :)

eatme_delicious said...

Emma: I wish I could enjoy them plain like that! I like chickpeas and black beans for the most part. I hope you enjoy this tofu dish! :)

Ricki said...

I have to admit that I love tofu, too, even though I try not to eat it too often. But this is my next tofu dish to make, for sure! Looks great. :)

Joanne said...

I really really do love beans, it's true. But I love the taste of tofu also. I could eat it plain. And still love it.

Apple and miso sounds like such an intriguing combination! Love that I have all the ingredients for this. :)

Shaheen said...

Your the first person I have come across who has proclained their love for tofu over beans :0) Though I don't mind eating tofu, I have to say that beans is always a preference. Love to try this recipe - by the way are the apples cookers or eating apples? Thanks

janet @ the taste space said...

I love beans! Do you like split peas? I like them slightly better than red lentils... and if you like split peas, you might like toor dal, too.

But chickpeas and black beans are great too... Panfry your chickpeas.. they are so much better!! :)

The plan is that you come to Toronto and I cook you up a storm of bean-centric dishes... :) Then I convert you, muahahaha!

Btw, I have had this recipe bookmarked since I got AFR... I love miso and apples and never thoguht to stick them together.. Happy you liked the combo. :)

janet @ the taste space said...

Just saw this.. how could you not want to make these? :)

http://mynewroots.blogspot.com/2011/11/black-bean-chocolate-chili-cherry.html

Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets said...

I love tofu, too! This looks amazing, but I have to admit I would even eat tofu from the box with just a light drizzle of soysauce.

Cookie baker Lynn said...

We were scheduled for snow, but it wimped out on us. My son was so disappointed. But it's definitely time for baking and warm dishes!

eatme_delicious said...

Shaheen: Haha yea I think most people like beans more. :) I'm not sure what cooker apples are. I just used the apples I would regularly eat, probably Gala.

Janet: I do like split peas and I like all lentils. It's just the other side of legumes I'm not a fan of, the white beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, etc. I enjoy chickpeas and black beans. I tried panfrying my chickpeas but thought it was just okay. I am positive you could convert me to a bean lover!! All your recipes look so delicious. And yes those bean cookies look AMAZING and I want to make them asap.

Xiaolu: I would be happy eating tofu like that too. :)

kickpleat said...

Vancouver is such a micro-climate! We never got snow over here in Strathcona - which I'm happy for but also a little sad. Rumour has it will be a cold winter so I guess there will be more snow eventually. I love apples and I often toss some in with my roast vegetables. This sounds good with the marinade.

Johanna GGG said...

tofu is marvellous - such a chameleon - never heard of this type of way of eating it but I am sure it sounds great!

Enjoy the snow - I wish we had snow in Melbourne - would put up with the inconvenience for a little magic in my life

Unknown said...

This sounds divine!!! I am in love with tofu too, the texture just gets me... not to mention all the flavors it absorbs. I will have to try this! And although I love beans, I am fully on-board with your lentil and tofu love.